I tried 5 BBQ must-haves in the air fryer for unplanned rainy days, one disintegrated but another tasted even better

Scottish Sun

3 days ago

Read on to see why air fryers are so popular
GRUPS UP I tried 5 BBQ must-haves in the air fryer for unplanned rainy days, one disintegrated but another tasted even better
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WE ALL know that the weather in the UK is unpredictable.
One day it's 25 degrees and you're planning a BBQ, but by the time it rolls around, we're hit with a thunderstorm.
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Reporter Leanne Hall tried BBQ essentials in the air fryer to see how they held up
Credit: Supplied
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She used the Ninja Double Stack SL300UK Air Fryer which comes with two drwers and four shelves
Credit: Ninja
But instead of cancelling your BBQ plans and letting the food go rancid in the fridge, we decided to put the air fryer to good use.
Plenty of people rave about air fryers in the wintertime, as they cost around 50% less to use than the oven, but they often get neglected in the summer.
But for unexpected drizzly days, these gadgets can be a lifesaver to your BBQ.
And here, Fabulous reporter Leanne Hall puts the Ninja Double Stack Air Fryer to the test.
This particular model is just £229 from AO, and is perfect if you have family coming over, as it comes with two shelves to cook on.
And even those have a rack inside so you can layer up food in each one to ensure no one is without a chicken drumstick.
It also comes with six different cooking settings, including a roasting option to help us get a char without being cooked on a bed of coal.
So we put five BBQ non-negotiables to the test to see if they taste just as good as they do on the barbie.
Asda's Smoky BBQ Chicken Thighs & Drumsticks, £4.58
This was a winner in the air fryer. I cooked it for 18 minutes at 180 for 15 before blasting it to 220 on the roast setting for the last few minutes to get a good char on top.
The outside of the BBQ chicken was perfectly crisp, and had a hint of chargrill flavour while the inside was tender and juicy, these did not disappoint and were probably my favourite to cook in the air fryer.
Score: 8/10
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The BBQ chicken was perfect in the air fryer
Credit: Leanne Hall
I have the ultimate lazy girl hack for BBQs, you still get all the flavour but there's zero clean up afterwards
Asda's Quarter Pounder Beef Burgers, £3.94
The burgers started out well, and the large patties were a welcome sight.
I stuck it in the air fryer for 12 minutes, and made sure to flip it halfway through.
The burger did basically half in size once cooked (which was to be expected,) but it was juicy and moist in the middle.
The burger didn't have the chargrilled flavour, and while you can't always taste much of that BBQ vibe once you add sauce and cheese, it would have been nice to have a bit more of a bite.
Score: 6/10
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The burger didn't have nice chargrilled finish but was still juicy in the middle
Credit: Leanne Hall
Rise of the air fryer
Air fryers have maintained their spot as the most popular kitchen gadget in the UK last year.
Annual sales figures from Lakeland show sales of air fryers were up 1,175% on last year – when they were already soaring in popularity – as households continue their efforts to save energy on standard ovens.
The retailer said: 'In previous years, their popularity could be attributed to consumers seeking healthier cooking options and fast cooking times.
'However, with the cost-of-living crisis continuing, air fryers have a renewed appeal as an efficient alternative to oven cooking.'
The only other products that 'shaped the year' were heated airers – with sales up 51% – and heated textiles, such as heated throws and ponchos, Lakeland said, as households bought gadgets as an alternative to expensive dryers and central and electric heaters.
Asda's Greek Inspired Lamb Kebabs, £3.98
When most people think of lamb, they think of succulent, juicy, tender meat that is full of flavour.
But chucking the delicate meat into the air fryer lost most of that.
While the Greek seasoning adds a nice freshness to the lamb, the meat itself was dry and practically disintegrating as I picked the skewer up.
These are best saved for the BBQ, as the air fryer burnt the outside and dried the inside of these kebabs way too quickly.
Score: 3/10
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The lamb kebabs burnt quickly and disintegraed when picking them up
Credit: Leanne Hall
Asda's New York Style Hot Dog Sausages, £2.98
One thing about me is that I love a hot dog, not a sausage in a roll.
So when I got these American style hot dogs, I was sceptical at first as they looked more like a sausage.
But once in the air fryer, I was pleasantly surprised, it had that slightly salty/briny taste a hot dog does but much meatier.
The air fryer gave it a nice chargrill so it had bite and was excellent in a roll smeared in ketchup and mustard.
Score: 7/10
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This massive hot dog exceeded my expectations
Credit: Leanne Hall
Asda's Hot Honey Pork Belly Slices, £3.98
This is everything you want, juicy in the middle and crisp on the outside.
You won't miss putting these on the BBQ thanks to the hot honey sauce.
The honey sauce gave them a sweet and spicy kick and gave the pork just enough char to make it seem like it had been cooked over coal.
In fact, these were even better in the air fryer than the BBQ.
Score: 10/10